FG: NIGERIANS HOPE FOR ADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY REAFFIRMED

Nigerians need not panic as, the Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has assured citizens that the Federal Government is more committed to improving 24-hour power supply over a purported plan to increase electricity tariffs.

Report says, the minister gave the assurance, during the groundbreaking ceremony for a 17.7MW interconnected mini-grid in Ibadan, Oyo state, organized by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) designed to provide electricity to communities in the state.

The communities expected to benefit are Bola, Jiboye, Molade-Adelubi, Ogo Oluwa and Sooko-Elega. They are located across Akinyele, Ido, Ibadan North, Egbeda and Lagelu Local Government Areas.

Speaking at the event, the minister urged Nigerians to ignore reports of a planned electricity tariff increase, saying the government was working towards providing a steady power supply.

“I want to say this clearly and without ambiguity: there is no plan to increase electricity tariffs. What we are planning is a power sector that works around the clock. Our commitment is 24/7 power,” he said.

Tegbe said the federal government is working to improve electricity supply, improving reliability, and ensure that developments in the power sector translate into economic opportunities for Nigerians in different parts of the country

He listed the Lagos-Ogun corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and Benin-Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor among the areas covered by the government’s energy plans.

The minister said, efforts are also being made to strengthen the national grid and improve the systems used to generate and transmit electricity to ensure that additional generation capacity supports businesses, industries, productive enterprises, and households across the country.

On his part, the managing director of REA,  Abba Aliyu, said the agency’s priority is increasingly focused on deploying generation capacity where it can deliver the greatest economic impact while leveraging private-sector investment and sustainable operating models.

Aliyu said the Ibadan project is part of a broader pipeline of investments being facilitated by the agency.

Tegbe praised Tinubu for his leadership and commended the REA, Paras Energy and Natural Resources Development Limited, the World Bank and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company for their roles in the initiative.



He described the projects as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that similar electricity projects had been carried out in other states with support from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

He also thanked the Oyo State Government, traditional rulers and community leaders for supporting the projects.